Scientists from the Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization (JNES) are warning that radioactive cooling water is leaking from the containment vessel at Fukushima Daiichi’s reactor #1. They estimate that the water in the vessel is only 40 cm deep, possibly exposing molten fuel there. TEPCO reports that the water level should be two meters. Researchers suspect that there is a 2 cm hole in a pipe connecting the containment vessel to the suppression chamber below it. TEPCO said that the water temperature is currently 30ºC, and believe that there is currently no danger of the fuel melting down further. Earlier this spring, TEPCO discovered that water levels in the containment vessel of reactor #2 were only 60 cm deep, raising larger questions about the stability of the reactors and TEPCO’s grasp of their condition. In order to decommission the plant and remove molten fuel, reactors eventually will need to be filled with water in order to block radiation. That process will prove more difficult if the utility is unable to repair the containment vessels.

How many more nuclear disasters can the world take before we are all affected by radiation. The U.S. Will be renewing the operating license of Pilgrim...

How many more nuclear disasters can the world take before we are all affected by radiation. The U.S. Will be renewing the operating license of Pilgrim Power station in Plymouth.this license is good for another 20 years. The Nuclear Regulatory Commision has never rejected a license renewal application. Hopefully organizations like Greenpeace will convince the world to stop nuclear power before it stops us. Than you for another great article Ms. McCann.

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(Unregistered) PCAH
says:

ONR are considering EDF's application to extend the life of the two Hinkley Point AGR nuclear reactors for another ten years beyond 2016 in spite ...

ONR are considering EDF's application to extend the life of the two Hinkley Point AGR nuclear reactors for another ten years beyond 2016 in spite of the risk of imminent core meltdown due to cracking, crumbling and misalignment of the control rods. The damage to the control rods is so widespread and dangerous that EDF are currently experimenting with articulated control rods in the hope that they will wriggle past all the misalignments. This has also resulted in breaches of the pressurised reactor containment vessels leading to high discharges of poisonous radioactive gases into the atmosphere, causing increases in leukaemia and other cancers, cardiovascular diseases and excess incidence of central nervous system illnesses. All these lead to premature deaths among men, women and children living in downwind Somerset coastal districts. The Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Health Protection Agency refuse to order the permanent shutdown of these AGR reactors, just as they have refused to order the re-sealing of the two Hinkley A defueled Magnox reactors where roof vents were installed in 2006 leading to an unprecedented increase in perinatal mortality as recorded by SW Public Health Observatory. If EDF are given planning approval for Hinkley C, the first refuelling will result in another catastrophic release of radiation as the reactor roofs have to be raised to enable refuelling. Not only that, the Hinkley site is bordered by a geological faultline parallel to the coastl and the limestone geology is so unstable that reactor base concrete slabs will not remain level.

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(Unregistered) rcsmiley7
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Having recently seen Surrey Nuclear Plant, run by Dominion Power, here in Virginia I am for the most part convinced it is safe and economical, ...

Having recently seen Surrey Nuclear Plant, run by Dominion Power, here in Virginia I am for the most part convinced it is safe and economical, provided there is no earthquakes, like the one in Mineral, VA a few months ago, that could break down the water pumping stations cooling the rods. It is both cheap and powerful, providing power for thousands of homes. There is always a backup for such an event. But it is the water of the James for which I am concerned most, since that provides fresh water for the Chesapeake Bay.

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(Unregistered) rogueokie
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It will have to stop of course. And it will when no insurance company will assume this level of risk. The costs are too high for them now, so the government has to step in when there is an accident?

So, the CEOs take the risks, they get to make the money, but the rest of us assume the risks, (financial, medical, envronmental)?

Look if this is the deal, I will make it without power, or go buy a solar panel for the house. Seriously.

So I am happy to see this article, those stats need to be on the front page of every paper in the US.

We could also make a rule for these plants. All shareholders get to help pay to clean up the mess if the plant blows, includes medical bills for anyone exposed to radiation for the next four or five generations.